DIY Tips

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Published:17:00Sunday 02 February 2014

The new year always inspires people to want to sort things out, and sorting things in the home is no exception.

If you are worried your rooms are looking a little tired, one easy resolution would be deciding to give them a new lick of paint.

But don’t just think about repainting the walls, repainting interior woodwork can be as transformative.

Until recently, white solvent-based paint was used on most woodwork in people’s homes, but this will discolour over time.As well as this discolouring, solvent-based wood paints have other disadvantages.

They often dry slowly. They can also release fumes, are prone to runs and drips and are hard to clean off your skin, clothes, carpets and anything else you accidentally spill them on.

I would always recommend using water-based ones. These dry quickly and although you have to do quite a few coats, especially on bare wood, the paint goes on more easily and it becomes easier and quicker to apply the more coats you do. You rarely get a run with water-based wood paints, they give off fewer fumes and are better for the environment because they contain fewer harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

Best of all, white water-based wood paint will stay white for years, long after a solvent-based one would have changed colour.

As well as specific water-based wood (and metal) paints, you can get also buy multi-surface ones. They can be used on walls and ceilings as well as wood and metal, ideal when you’re painting where different surfaces join, such as a wall and skirting board.